Details of the evening: Mukti Shri will walk through different facets of Kathak including its rich repertoire, expressions, compositions and importance of taal. This will be done through live performance with supporting musicians on the Tabla and Sarangi.

Some of Mukti`s students will also support her in this journey by reciting compositions or performing when she needs to explain the importance of recitation in a Kathak performance.

Geetika Varde - The Golden Era of Hindi film music. Representation or Incorporation of Indian Classical Music. In collaboration with the Nehru Centre

Geetika Varde - disciple of the renowned singer, Smt. Manik Bhide, is a vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana.

Geetika has done extensive research on Indian classical singing and will present her work in a lecture demonstration.

The Golden Era of Hindi film music
Representation or Incorporation of Indian Classical Music.

In collaboration with the Nehru Centre

This module will deal with the various aspects of the songs of that period of the Hindi film industry which was known as the golden era of film music, when great stalwarts like Naushad Ali, Shankar Jaikishan, C.Ramchandra, Madan Mohan to name a few followed by the generation of versatile greats like Laxmikant Pyarelal, R.D. Burman, etc. composed impeccable melodies, some of which were linked to classical raags. This era also enjoyed the privilege of having eminent classical musicians like Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pt.Ram Narayan, Ustad Rais Khan and many more as a part of the rich orchestra of those songs.

To explain the contribution of the above mentioned artistes a number of songs will be played (cued appropriately) to illustrate that respective point. Anecdotes related to the studio recordings of some of these unforgettable masterpieces of songs would give an insight of those golden moments!

Most singers of that generation were trained in the classical system of vocalization and had undergone an arduous journey to establish themselves in the film industry. They had mastered the technique of singing into a microphone, yet they did not sound synthetic. They had cultured their voices specially to suit the requirements of film songs without losing the natural soul of the voice. This becomes a very important point of study, which of course will be corroborated with demonstrations as also listening to many songs, with particular discussions on some.

This March, over four nights, the San Francisco Jazz Festival will feature a special series showcasing tabla master/ percussionist/ composer Zakir Hussain, and we have launched a campaign to film them! Each of the shows will be a special evening celebrating the ground-breaking, genre-bending collaborations of a musician the NY Times has called "a living genius" BUT we need your help to do it! Any of these nights would be a headliner on its own, but together it’s a rare mini-festival of amazing music with artists such as Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Joshua Redman, Eric Harland, Steve Smith, Giovanni Hidalgo, Niladri Kumar and more. We`ve launched a campaign to support this project and created many perks, gifts and special offerings in exchange for your support. From CD`s, posters, t-shirts and DVD`s to backstage passes and dinner with the MAN HIMSELF, there is something for everyone.

The campaign is live at http://www.indiegogo.com/zakirhussain and will run until February 18th (only 15 more days!)

Very few of Zakir`s thousands of concerts have ever been professionally filmed and YouTube is full of pirated videos with poor sound and video quality. Our goal is to capture all four nights in broadcast quality to be shared on DVD. With your support we will surely succeed. This project is close to Zakir`s heart, a man who has touched so many through his 40+ years of music. Don`t miss out on a chance to be part of this historic project. There is no contribution too small and we are grateful for your support.

There are several ways you can help:

1. Go to the campaign page at http://www.indiegogo.com/zakirhussain and CHOOSE YOUR PERK!

2. Take the CAMPAIGN CHALLENGE and convince 2 friends to get their perks today!

3. `Like` the campaign on FB/Twitter and share the campaign link on your Facebook wall, through Twitter, Google +, anything!

4. Send out emails to people you think would be interested and feel would be inclined to contribute to this cause.

5. If you have any ideas on organizations/people/sources you think we should reach out to, please contact us at veranisa@mac.com

6. Wait a couple of days and repeat step 2-4!

For a special message from Zakir Hussain click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73Dmcdgr23s

San Francisco Jazz Festival

For a special message from Zakir Hussain click here or copy and paste the link below in your browser

24 September 2011

2:00 PM

Kathak workshop by Jayanti Mala

Kathak workshop by Jayanti Mala on the 24th September 2011 - 2 to 4pm

Call for information on 07903428450 or email - sujata.banerjee@btinternet.com

Book your seats on the above numbers

The AllaRakha Foundation is grateful to Nehru Centre for their support for our previous event which helped us to present these artists.

Kindly join us for a conversational discussion on North and South Indian Classical Music at the Nehru Centre. This event has been possible with the kind support of the Nehru Centre. Your Knowledge and sadhna in this will be important to further our understanding in these two styles of music.

Yours Sincerely

Khurshid Aulia

Nehru Centre
8 South Audley Street
London
W1K 1HF

30 April 2010

7:30 PM

Shraddhanjali

Dear Friends,

With a heavy heart we sadly inform you of the demise of Ammaji (Begum AllaRakha), our mother. She was a beautiful and caring person, full of love and kindness to all who met her or came across her.

The 10th annual event of The AllaRakha Foundation on 30th April 2010 will be our Shardhanjali to both our parents Ustad AllaRakha and Bavi Begum AllaRakha (15/8/1929 to 24/10/2009). Ammaji`s support was always there for the Foundation which is why we feel it is fitting to have this honourable tribute alongside her husband`s.

Ustad Zakir Hussain will be presenting the event `Shraddhanjali` at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, on 30th April 2010, joining him will be Ranjit Barot, the famous multifaceted drummer and composer. The young and the talented

Zakir Hussain is a world-renowned tabla virtuoso whose music transcends genres and styles. He founded the legendary Indo-jazz band Shakti with John McLaughlin and has collaborated extensively with Mickey Hart from the Grateful Dead, as well as touring with Charles Lloyd in the group Sangam. Most of all, he is immersed in the traditions of Indian classical music, creating innovative programmes that explore and extend its rich heritage. It`s this aspect of his playing that comes to the fore with this summer`s Barbican concert, where he is joined by:

Event Details: The dynamic physical expression of dance meets percussive rhythms. To commemorate the 9th anniversary event of the AllaRakha Foundation in memory of Tabla legend Ustad AllaRakha of the Punjab Gharana.

Two of the most talented Kathak dancers of recent times: Uma Dogra of Jaipur Gharana and Gauri Sharma of Lucknow Gharana will be presenting pure classical Kathak styles of dance, the same art form yet intrinsically different. Combined with the unique talent of Taufiq Qureshi, son of Ustad AllaRakha who will be presenting his rhythmic skills to create a wonderfully innovative event. These world renowned artists of India are joining together for this exceptional occasion, which is a celebration to pay homage to the tabla legend Ustad AllaRakha.

Sanju Sahai, one of the best tabla players in the UK, will be accompanying them. He is a disciple of Pundit Sharda Sahai.

Yogesh Samsi - Senior most disciple and one of the best students of Ustad AllaRakha.

Kiranpal Singh Deoora on Santoor, a senior disciple of Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma. He also learnt Tabla from Ripdhamman Singhji of Punjab who is also a disciple of Ustad Alla Rakha. With His Holiness Satguru Jagjit Singh Maharaj`s divine blessings, Kiranpal learnt Santoor in the true Guru Shishya Parampara from Pt Shiv Kumar Sharma and now is one of a few maestros of Santoor in the UK. He has played at Buckingham Palace, South Bank and many prestigious concerts all over the world. He has released several CDs. He will be accompanied by Tarsem Singh on tabla.

Yusuf Mehmood on Tabla, trained under Ustad Hashim Mahmoud, performing weekly at the Sufi ceremonies. At the age of fourteen, he moved to Delhi on a scholarship from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to study music but after a year of vocal study, he decided to train under Ustad Bandu Khan of the Ajrara gharana. In 1994, Ustad Allahrakha happened to hear Yusuf play, it was agreed that he should study with the great master. Yusuf has accompanied several famous artists and has also performed with a variety of `fusion` ensembles. He will be accompanied by Timor Shaidaie on harmonium

Also participating: Dhol Foundation

Tarsem Singh on Tabla ( Student of Ustad AllaRakha )

Admission Free

Event Organiser: Khurshid Aulia (Daughter of Ustad AllaRakha)

The Nehru Centre
8 South Audley Street
London W1K 1HF

21 July 2007

6:30 PM

Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia & Zakir Hussain

pay tribute to Ustad AllaRakha

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet and have a conversation with these great living legends. A short film of Ustad AllaRakha and clips of his film compositions will also be shown. Entry is free.

ANTONIA MINNECOLA (Kathak dance), based in America, she is a unique dancer and is a disciple of the Kathak Queen – Sitara Devi

GURUDEV SINGH (Sarod), he is a well known UK-based Sarod artist and is a disciple of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

YOGESH SAMSI (Tabla), he is one of the most senior students of Ustad AllaRakha and has accompanied many legends of music such as Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Zakir Hussain, to name but a few.

YUSUF MEHMOOD (Vocal/Harmonium), a well known Tabla player and also a student of Ustad AllaRakha. He is a multi-faceted artist.

SHEHBAZ KHAN (Tabla), he is a disciple of Ustad AllaRakha and is locally based.

DEEPA NAIR (Vocal), she is a disciple of the renowned singer Begum Parveen Sultana and is herself a good singer.

FAIZAN HUSSAIN (Tabla), he is the grandson of Ustad AllaRakha. This is his introductory performance, he has learned directly from his uncles: Zakir Hussain, Fazal and Taufiq Qureshi

Reflecting the timeless tradition and collaboration of two Indian dance form featuring outstanding luminaries from both north and south Indian dance forms, Bharatnatyam and Kathak.

Chitra Visweswaran Diva of Bharatanatyam, participating after a long time at the South Bank Centre along with special guest Pt. Pratap Pawar, Gauri Sharma Tripathi and Abhey Shankar Misra, accompanied by live national and internationally known musicians.

Your support and presence in our events will help the AllaRakha Foundation fullfil its aim - `To provide an opportunity to the young upcoming artist`.